How to Get Screws in Fallout 4: A Best Guide – In Fallout 4, screws are a vital crafting material. They’re essential for building and upgrading weapons, armor, and settlement structures. However, they can be tricky to find, especially when you need a lot of them for crafting high-quality equipment or completing settlement upgrades. If you’re struggling to gather enough screws in Fallout 4, this guide will walk you through the best ways to collect and farm screws, from scrapping specific items to utilizing perks and locations.
Why Screws Are Essential in Fallout 4
In Fallout 4, screws are an important component in:
- Weapon Mods: Many weapon modifications, especially high-tier mods, require screws.
- Armor Mods: Enhancing armor with mods like improved lining or plating requires screws.
- Settlement Structures: Screws are also essential for various settlement structures, especially those that involve intricate machinery.
- If you’re planning on doing a lot of crafting and upgrading in Fallout 4, having a steady supply of screws will make things much easier. Let’s break down where and how to find them.
Items That Contain Screws
The quickest way to gather screws is by identifying and scrapping items that contain them. Below are some of the most common items in Fallout 4 that contain screws:
- Typewriters: Found in offices and abandoned buildings, typewriters are a fantastic source of screws.
- Desk Fans: These are one of the most common items containing screws, often found in offices, workshops, and around settlements.
- Toy Cars: You’ll find toy cars in houses and certain indoor locations. They’re small but worth grabbing for screws.
- Giddyup Buttercup Parts: Pieces of this toy horse contain screws and can be found in various locations, such as toy stores and homes.
- Hot Plates: These are frequently found in kitchens and are useful for screws as well as other components.
- Globes: Found in schools, offices, and homes, globes can also be a reliable source of screws.
Once you collect these items, head to a crafting station, go to the “scrap” option, and break them down to get screws. Keep an eye out for these items as you explore, as they’ll be your main source for gathering screws quickly.
Best Locations to Farm Screws in Fallout 4
If you want to collect screws efficiently, certain areas in Fallout 4 are better than others. Here are some of the top locations for finding screw-containing items:
1. Super Duper Mart
Located in Lexington, Super Duper Mart is a supermarket that has plenty of shelves stocked with items like typewriters, desk fans, and hot plates. Make sure to explore all aisles and backrooms for potential screw sources.
2. Corvega Assembly Plant
The Corvega Assembly Plant is another fantastic place to farm screws. It’s filled with typewriters and fans, plus you can take on raiders for some loot.
3. Fort Hagen
Fort Hagen has several rooms with offices and storerooms where you’ll find plenty of typewriters, desk fans, and other items with screws. This location also has good loot in general, making it worth the trip.
4. Cambridge Police Station
Once you start working with the Brotherhood of Steel, you’ll likely come across the Cambridge Police Station. It has several items containing screws and can be a helpful spot if you’re already nearby.
5. Federal Ration Stockpile
Located to the west of Sanctuary Hills, this location contains Giddyup Buttercup parts, which are an excellent source of screws. Be prepared for a few enemies, but the loot makes it worthwhile.
6. Office Buildings
Scattered across the Fallout 4 map are various office buildings, particularly in cities like Boston. These places often contain desk fans and typewriters, so be sure to loot these buildings whenever you come across them.
Farming Techniques for Screws
Collecting screws in Fallout 4 can be more efficient with a few strategies. Here are some useful tips to maximize your screw haul:
1. Use the Scrapper Perk
The Scrapper perk is a game-changer when it comes to finding screws. By investing in this perk, you’ll get more materials when scrapping items. At Rank 2, you’ll gain even more components from scrapped items, which can help you build a nice stockpile of screws.
2. Visit Vendors
Vendors often sell items that contain screws, or sometimes they sell screws directly. For example:
- Arturo Rodriguez in Diamond City often stocks junk items containing screws.
- Trashcan Carla, a traveling merchant, can occasionally have items with screws. You can find her roaming between Sanctuary Hills and Drumlin Diner.
- Buy items containing screws when you have extra caps to spare.
3. Set Up Supply Lines
If you’re managing multiple settlements, setting up supply lines can be useful. This way, materials (including screws) will be accessible at any of your settlements, making it easier to keep track of resources. To establish supply lines, you’ll need the Local Leader perk.
4. Tag Screws for Search
If you tag screws for search in the workshop menu, any item containing screws will be highlighted with a magnifying glass icon whenever you see it in the game world. This is a helpful feature to ensure you don’t miss items that can be scrapped for screws.
Additional Tips for Screw Farming Fallout 4
- Do Regular Runs: Create a route that includes high-yield locations like Fort Hagen, Super Duper Mart, and Corvega Assembly Plant. Doing a regular run through these spots can quickly replenish your screw supplies.
- Save and Reload: If you’re farming screws from a specific area and need more than what you find initially, save your game, leave the area, and return after a few in-game days. This can often respawn items in the area.
- Craft and Scrap Unwanted Weapons: You can sometimes get screws from unwanted weapons by crafting mods for them and then scrapping them. This won’t yield as many screws as junk items, but it’s a helpful trick if you’re running low and have extra weapon mods.
Using Screws Wisely in Fallout 4
Since screws are a limited resource, it’s essential to use them wisely. Before crafting or upgrading, plan out your mods and prioritize your most-used weapons and armor pieces. Over time, you’ll accumulate enough screws to work on additional projects without worrying about running out.
Prioritize Important Mods:
- Focus on high-impact weapon mods that increase damage, range, or accuracy.
- Upgrade armor pieces that offer significant protection bonuses.
- By prioritizing upgrades for your primary gear, you’ll make the most of your screws while ensuring you stay prepared for tougher enemies.
Conclusion
In Fallout 4, screws are among the most critical resources for players focused on crafting and upgrading. By knowing where to look, what items to collect, and how to maximize your farming efficiency, you’ll never have to worry about running out of screws. Whether it’s setting up a farming route, scrapping specific items, or leveraging perks like Scrapper, these strategies will ensure you always have enough screws for whatever projects you want to take on.
With this guide, you should be well on your way to becoming a screw-gathering pro in Fallout 4. Happy hunting, and may your crafting be efficient and rewarding!